COMMUNITY MEETINGS SCHEDULED

School District May Alter Class Schedules; Three Community Meetings Scheduled

Officials consider changing number of daily periods for middle, high schools.

By MERISSA GREENTHE LEDGER

Published: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 11:55 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 11:55 p.m.

BARTOW | Public reaction to a policy change in class schedules for next school year has caused Polk County School District officials to plan three community meetings.

Facts

The School Board still must vote on a final version and officials are still working on details of what the new scheduling will look like.

Middle schools would drop from an eight-period day to seven classes and high schools would change from seven periods to six periods.

The meetings were planned after parents and students emailed district officials, School Board members and The Ledger about their concerns.

The proposal would save the district an estimated $7.2 million, some of the money needed for an $18 million budget shortfall to continue teachers' pay raises in the 2013-14 school year.

The schedule changes are the biggest cost savings to make up the shortfall, district officials said.

School Board Chairwoman Hazel Sellers said the district can't operate at a deficit to continue the teachers' salaries.

"We need to do it to balance the budget," she said. "We're at the point every cut we make is painful. I don't see any other options."

School Board member Hunt Berryman agreed.

"At this point, it's the only place we've found that has the magnitude of dollars," he said.

Details for the meetings have not been set. The School Board still must vote on a final version and officials are still working on details of what the new scheduling will look like.

Interim Superintendent of Schools John Stewart informed the School Board Tuesday morning that no decision has been made and elective classes will still be offered.

David Lewis, the district's associate superintendent of learning, said school administrators will have input on the scheduling and a finalized version will based on individual schools' needs.

The six-period scheduling will allow for longer class time, teachers to have their lesson planning at the same time and for all students to get tutoring built into the school day.

"While the budgetary concerns are the driver, we see opportunities for creativity and flexibility," Lewis said.

Core academic classes such as English and algebra won't be affected. However, courses not required for graduation, such as some electives, could be modified. For instance, teachers could instruct fewer classes of a particular subject.

The classes offered at each school will depend on courses students need and are interested in taking.

Until a final decision is made, principals were instructed to have students register for a six-period day in the new school year with an optional seventh-period class.

"Our goal is to make sure all teachers remain in the district in their areas of certification," he said.

That will mean teachers may get moved to other schools or teach a particular extracurricular subject at two schools neighboring one another.

Students and parents voiced concerns about advanced placement classes and hours of attendance.

"Why should our students carry the burden of the fiscal deficit?" Lisa Meyers asked in an email. Her two children attend George Jenkins High School and Lawton Chiles Middle Academy.

"The school system exists to provide them with what they will need to have a successful future and we should do everything possible to support that idea. Taking classes away is heading in the opposite direction from what our students need to be competitive students, employees and entrepreneurs."

Rosmary Nieto, a sophomore at Lakeland High School, is concerned about dropping from being able to get 14 credits in two years to 12.

‘‘What happens if some of the students have bad grades or don't have the time to make up those credits?'' she asked.

She also said that if school begins at 8:30 a.m. rather than 7 a.m., the day would end at 3:30 p.m., which could cause problems for working students.

Lewis said Tuesday that programs with unique courses such as International Baccalaureate and Summerlin Academy will not be "adversely impacted."

[ Merissa Green can be reached at merissa.green@theledger.com or 863-802-7547. ]

<p>BARTOW | Public reaction to a policy change in class schedules for next school year has caused Polk County School District officials to plan three community meetings.</p><p>Middle schools would drop from an eight-period day to seven classes and high schools would change from seven periods to six periods.</p><p>The meetings were planned after parents and students emailed district officials, School Board members and The Ledger about their concerns.</p><p>The proposal would save the district an estimated $7.2 million, some of the money needed for an $18 million budget shortfall to continue teachers' pay raises in the 2013-14 school year.</p><p>The schedule changes are the biggest cost savings to make up the shortfall, district officials said.</p><p>School Board Chairwoman Hazel Sellers said the district can't operate at a deficit to continue the teachers' salaries.</p><p>"We need to do it to balance the budget," she said. "We're at the point every cut we make is painful. I don't see any other options."</p><p>School Board member Hunt Berryman agreed.</p><p>"At this point, it's the only place we've found that has the magnitude of dollars," he said.</p><p>Details for the meetings have not been set. The School Board still must vote on a final version and officials are still working on details of what the new scheduling will look like.</p><p>Interim Superintendent of Schools John Stewart informed the School Board Tuesday morning that no decision has been made and elective classes will still be offered.</p><p>David Lewis, the district's associate superintendent of learning, said school administrators will have input on the scheduling and a finalized version will based on individual schools' needs.</p><p>The six-period scheduling will allow for longer class time, teachers to have their lesson planning at the same time and for all students to get tutoring built into the school day.</p><p>"While the budgetary concerns are the driver, we see opportunities for creativity and flexibility," Lewis said.</p><p>Core academic classes such as English and algebra won't be affected. However, courses not required for graduation, such as some electives, could be modified. For instance, teachers could instruct fewer classes of a particular subject.</p><p>The classes offered at each school will depend on courses students need and are interested in taking.</p><p>Until a final decision is made, principals were instructed to have students register for a six-period day in the new school year with an optional seventh-period class.</p><p>Offering fewer classes would mean fewer teaching positions in some departments, Lewis said.</p><p>"Our goal is to make sure all teachers remain in the district in their areas of certification," he said.</p><p>That will mean teachers may get moved to other schools or teach a particular extracurricular subject at two schools neighboring one another.</p><p>Students and parents voiced concerns about advanced placement classes and hours of attendance.</p><p>"Why should our students carry the burden of the fiscal deficit?" Lisa Meyers asked in an email. Her two children attend George Jenkins High School and Lawton Chiles Middle Academy.</p><p>"The school system exists to provide them with what they will need to have a successful future and we should do everything possible to support that idea. Taking classes away is heading in the opposite direction from what our students need to be competitive students, employees and entrepreneurs."</p><p>Rosmary Nieto, a sophomore at Lakeland High School, is concerned about dropping from being able to get 14 credits in two years to 12.</p><p>''What happens if some of the students have bad grades or don't have the time to make up those credits?'' she asked.</p><p>She also said that if school begins at 8:30 a.m. rather than 7 a.m., the day would end at 3:30 p.m., which could cause problems for working students.</p><p>Lewis said Tuesday that programs with unique courses such as International Baccalaureate and Summerlin Academy will not be "adversely impacted."</p><p> </p><p>[ Merissa Green can be reached at merissa.green@theledger.com or 863-802-7547. ]</p>